Stray Pearls: Memoirs of Margaret De Ribaumont, Viscountess of Bellaise

"Stray Pearls: Memoirs of Margaret De Ribaumont, Viscountess of Bellaise" by Charlotte M. Yonge is a historical novel that tells the story of Margaret, a young English woman who becomes Viscountess of Bellaise in France during a time of political unrest. As Margaret looks back on her life, the story follows her journey from her childhood in England to her arranged marriage and her new life in France. The novel shows Margaret struggling with her English roots and the expectations of French high society, especially as she gets ready to meet her husband, whom she thinks is old but turns out to be the young Gaspard de Bellaise. She must tackle the problems of family legacy and social duty in a foreign nation.